(CNN) - Sen. Ted Cruz wrapped up a week in the political spotlight headlining a political fundraiser Friday in New Hampshire, home to the traditional first primary contest in the race for the White House.

The Texas Republican, who is considered a possible contender for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, was the main attraction at a reception for the New Hampshire Republican Party in Dublin, where he told a receptive crowd that changes in Washington were only possible through mobilizing grassroots activists around issues like defunding President Barack Obama’s health care law.
And he singled out the state’s freshman Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, as part of a class of lawmakers in Washington he termed the “children of Reagan,” which he said also included Sens. Marco Rubio and Rand Paul – and, as a member of the audience hollered out, Cruz himself.

“Listen to them communicate,” he said of his fellow lawmakers. “Listen to Kelly stand up and talk about new market principles. Listen to Marco. Listen to Rand. They’re positive, hopeful, optimistic, unifying. Appealing to our better angels. They’re echoes of Ronald Reagan. They’re not mean, nasty, divisive, using wedge issues.”

The Granite State drop-in was the latest in a string of visits to early voting states for Cruz. He’s already made two visits this summer to Iowa, whose caucuses kick off the primary and caucus calendar, and in May was in South Carolina, which holds the first southern primary.

The New Hampshire fundraiser was held at the home of former Ambassador Joseph Petrone and his wife, Augusta. The longtime New Hampshire residents are known for their active engagement in Republican politics, and over the years have served as state chairs to presidential campaigns for Reagan, Bob Dole, George W. Bush and Rudy Giuliani.

The trip to New Hampshire concludes a busy week for Cruz, who also made headlines for his newly discovered Canadian citizenship and for getting heckled during a town hall in Houston.

The citizenship issue sprang up after the Dallas Morning News - citing legal experts - said Cruz's birthplace in Canada to an American mother makes him a dual U.S.-Canada citizen.

Later the senator declared he was ending any Canadian citizenship he may hold, though the actual process of renouncing Canadian citizenship involves a four-page application and a $100 fee.

Cruz, a leading architect of a plan that would put the government's finances on the line if President Barack Obama's health care plan isn't stripped of its funding, rallied supporters behind that proposal at a rally in Houston on Tuesday. The event was part of a week-long tour sponsored by the conservative group Heritage Action for America that features Cruz's father, Rafael Cruz, as a headliner.

The younger Cruz was interrupted three times by hecklers during his remarks, though each time he allowed the protesters to speak before continuing his anti-Obamacare address. The final heckler was drowned out by chants of "USA" from the crowd.

Cruz, along with fellow Republican Sens. Rubio and Mike Lee, has said he won't support a measure to continue financing the government if it includes funding for Obamacare. The current measure keeping the government funded expires September 30.

Some Republicans contest that tactic won't work, and will instead alienate some Obamacare opponents.

soundoff(13 Responses)

To paraphrase his own words from earlier this week, frankly, Ted Cruz DEFINES "silly season". Fortunately, he's going to New Hampshire where seasons actually change.

August 23, 2013 08:58 pm at 8:58 pm |

Tampa Tim

And the damn fool continues his "dumbing down of America tour" by firing up the domestic terrorist base.

August 23, 2013 09:30 pm at 9:30 pm |

Thom

This guy Cruz is the biggest joke in Washington. He needs to go just put his head in the sand somewhere and leave it. I have never heard a guy talk from his rear end as much as this guy...........this guy has no solutions, only more problems, and no concern what so ever for the American people............ Go back to Canada where you belong !!!

August 23, 2013 09:52 pm at 9:52 pm |

Donkey Party

Lies, hate, fear, ignorance, and racism is what the GOP is all about. A vote for the GOP, is a vote against America.

August 23, 2013 10:03 pm at 10:03 pm |

Dan5404

This newcomer extremist is living in a dream world if he thinks he has a chance of being president. He and the others he named are not even close to being like Reagan. He and they are all wasting their time.

August 24, 2013 12:41 am at 12:41 am |

Winston Smith

If this is your answer to the countries woes, we're in deep do do. Just this mans face invokes distrust, as well as the desire to see him fail. How you people come up with these characters is beyond all sensible reason. Do all of you get together, get loaded to the gills, and sacrifice some form of poultry before making your decision? What ever you are doing, it's not working. Please take this into consideration during your next drunken escapade.

August 24, 2013 02:21 am at 2:21 am |

Anonymous

The greatest benefit that Cruz could gain would be to get in the race tomorrow making him the front runner until another candidate declares...

August 24, 2013 04:05 am at 4:05 am |

don in albuquerque

Remember the Governator (Arnold S). They said he could not run for president because he was born in a foreign country, though he was a naturalized citizen. It did not matter if one of his parents was American (which they weren't) or not. He was not a natural born US citizen. Ergo, Cruz cannot run. There the GOTP goes again, making up the rules as they go along but only rules that benefits them.

August 24, 2013 07:48 am at 7:48 am |

askdavey

wow out raising money state by state,when they go to run for office nobody likes backing the loser,so get in line tea party folks and bring your wallet, for they will spend it ,,,,,and steal some while leading all of you to believe they can win.

August 24, 2013 09:49 am at 9:49 am |

wendel

where is this guy from???? Just another republican bully with a big mouth. No ideas to help the middle class just more shots at the president. If he didn't have a Spanish sur name the repos would not even be interested. They think that's all you need to win over the Hispanic population. But we never did say they where smart.

August 24, 2013 10:34 am at 10:34 am |

MaryM

Ted McCarthy Cruz will never be POTUS. He and his TPer types are doing great harm to the once great Republican party. Please Americans, vote these TPers out of office now.

August 24, 2013 10:37 am at 10:37 am |

Must be what's in the Tea

Why is this man popular? He espouses division and discontent with nary a coherent word about solutions. What would you do Mr. Cruz as president?

August 24, 2013 10:38 am at 10:38 am |

Debbie

Cruz may be a citizen but he is not naturally born on US soil. However, I would never vote for the man because he is a radical zealot that does not represent the best of America but all that divides it. A House divided cannot stand and that I believe is the goal of Cruz. To further divide and crush America.